Disengaging myself then from his embrace, I made him
sensible of the reasons there were for his present leaving
me; on which, though reluctantly, he put on his cloaths with
as little expedition, however, as he could help, wantonly
interrupting himself, between whiles, with kisses, touches
and embraces I could not refuse myself to. Yet he happily
return'd to his master before he was missed; but, at taking
leave, I forc'd him (for he had sentiments enough to refuse
it) to receive money enough to buy a silver watch, that
great article of subaltern finery, which he at length ac-
cepted of, as a remembrance he was carefully to preserve of
my affections.
And here, Madam, I ought, perhaps, to make you an apol-
ogy for this minute detail of things, that dwelt so strongly
upon my memory, after so deep an impression: but, besides
that this intrigue bred one great revolution in my life,
which historical truth requires I should not sink from you,
may I not presume that so exalted a pleasure ought not to be
ungratefully forgotten, or suppress'd by me, because I found
it in a character in low life; where, by the bye, it is of-
tener met with, purer, and more unsophisticate, that among
the false, ridiculous refinements with which the great suf-
fer themselves to be so grossly cheated by their pride: the
great! than whom there exist few amongst those they call
the vulgar, who are more ignorant of, or who cultivate less,
the art of living than they do; they, I say, who for ever
mistake things the most foreign of the nature of pleasure
itself; whose capital favourite object is enjoyment of
beauty, wherever that rare invaluable gift is found, without
distinction of birth, or station.
Pages:
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146